In its third year, United Nigeria Airline faces challenges such as soaring Jet A1 costs, forex shortages, and infrastructure limitations.
Highlighting these issues, Chief Operating Officer Mazi Osita Okonkwo marks the airline’s third anniversary.
Jet fuel prices are set to rise again from February 20, 2024, with expected rates of 1,480 NGN/L in Lagos, 1,522 NGN/L in Abuja, and 1,530 NGN/L in Kano.
This is compounded by the high cost and scarcity of forex, despite reaching a peak of 1,700 NGN to $1.
Mazi Osita expressed frustration over the operational hurdles faced by airlines.
Despite these challenges, the airline has operated daily since February 12 for three years and is close to reaching its one millionth passenger milestone.
Mazi Osita highlighted the drastic increase in Jet fuel prices from 300 NGN to 1,300 NGN and forex rates from 300 NGN to 1,700 NGN.
He emphasized the difficulties in accessing forex for critical spare parts due to high costs.
Furthermore, infrastructure inadequacies persist across all airports, including MMA2, which although technologically advanced, still faces space restrictions causing chaos during peak flight times.
“When we commenced operation in 2020, Jet fuel prices was about 300 NGN but as at today it is 1,300 NGN. Forex of about 300 NGN as of today is 1,7000 NGN. These are ingredients for disaster.
“ When you look at Forex, the availability and the cost, for us to get critical spare parts we habe to pay a lot of money to be able to access Forex .
“ Then you talk of the infrastructure inadequacies in all our airports , there is no one that is excluded. MMA2 has some advantages, they have Technology, they have vehicles but still the space itself is so restrictive that when there are so many flights leaving at the same time, it is so chaotic and requires further work in terms of expansion.
The airline took stock of activities that led up to its third year in active operations and simply wants the best out of the environment to support carriers.
